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THE CZAR AND HIS SORROWS

jL^BjHa fortunate that Alexander 111 ia a man (^^kteulean build, and of a mind almost as HHmrfol aa bia physique, otherwise he would [pR by being oruahed under the accumulation PoT sorrows whioh have oast their shadows over his reign, and have blighted his whole life, flighted by both father and mother, who for some reason loved him far leaa than any of (heir other obildren, bis infanoy and youth were exceedingly sad. He became still more distasteful to his parents after the death of his elder brother, who expired at Nioe, on the cvs of his marriage, from the effects of a malady due to an unintentional blow inflicted by the present Czar In the coarse of some rough horse-play. A man of uncompromising honaity, ha made no effort to bide bia indignation at the immorality and corruption whioh were rile both among the Imperial family and at oourt here during the closing yean of the last reign. He was thoroughly out of touoh with the regime whioh then prevailed. The disgraoelnl negleot to v»bioh his mother was rabjeoted, and which ultimately lsd to her death, oreated a deep impression on his mind, notwithstanding all her coldness towards him.; and when, a few weeks after bis demise, hsr husband went so far as to oontract a morganatio allianoe with bis mistress, the Princess Jurieffaky, the relations between father and son became more atrained than evert Tht tragedy whioh brought Alexander 111. to the throne eight years ago has been followed ainoe then by repeated attempts to assassinate both himself and those most dear to him i and though the efforts of the would* be murderers have in each oase been frustrated, the oonstant peril ani the frequently welUfounded distrust of thoie with whom he ia brought into oon taot. have had a very saddening effeot on bis oharaoter and ap« ptaranoe. The orowning sorrow of his life hat, howaver, jUBt oome upon him. His wife, to whom he is passionately devoted, and who is the most gracious and oaptivating woman that has ever adorned a European throne, has beooma entirely inaanei Her nervous system had already been completely shattered by the repeated attempts on her husband's life, einoe ths terrible railway aooidtnt at Borki a few months ago, when so many of her favorite attendants lost their lives, her mental da. pretsion has increased to a moat alarming degree. She paesas whole days in absolute . ulenoe; on other occasions she refuses to touoh a morsel of food, while at times she even fails to reeognise the members of her family. Her dementia has assumed the same aggravated character as that whioh two years ago nseeuitatsd the detention of Hsr Majesty's younger sister, the Prlnoeas Tbyra, In a (rivate lunatic asylum near Vienna for ths ■peos of eight months. The extreme gravity of the Czarina's oaae can best bs estimated by the faot that at the request of the Emperor and of bis physioiaus, Dr Oharoot tb« famous Paxiiuur maa-dootor, and rrofesior Ton '-»Xeid«a4orf, the director of the celebrated lonatie asylum at Dobling, near Vienna, who hadehargeof the Duohesa of Cumberland's ease, have both arrived in this oity en route to Gratsobina, Serious fears are entertained that the Empress may attempt to destroy herself, and she is watched day and night without intermission by the pbyeioians and trained nurses. Her reoovery ia extremely doubtful, for ao long as her husband remains on the throne the danger of his aßßaisination will txilt, and henoe she will never be permitted to enjoy permanent relief from the horrible anxiety whioh has wrought snob bavoo in her brain. Poor little Marie Feodorovna was the brightest, prettiest, and moat oharming of eltver old Qaeen Louise of Denmark's daughters. Had she any inkling of the Bad Sate in store for her when on the morning of her departure from her father's palaoe at Fradenaborg to become the bride of Alexander Alax&ndrowitoh at 8t Petersburg she drew A diamond ring from her finger and soratohed on the window-pane of bar little boudoir; •• Mit elsksde Predensborg farwell" (My beloved Fredenaborß, farewell)? There were many at thi time who mads gloomy predictions oonoerning the marriage, . for the Prinoeis Dagmar had been betrothed to Alex* ander's eldeat brother, who had died at Nice, and only consented to marry her present hoibandinaoeordanoe with the dying wishes of bstfamoe. It must be admitted, however, that she benefited by the change, for the present Csaris • far more noble and sterling oharac lor than his eldest brother ever was, though perhaps lass handsome and refined looking. If 0 brtatb of scandal or intrigue lub ever elooded their marital relations, and it is impossible to find anywhere a more affectionate and devoted couple than the Emperor and Empress of Russia. A painful feature of the present state of affairs is ths oomplete isolation of Alexander 111 in bis great grief. There la an utter absence' of sympathy on the part of bis Boutins, his uncles, and even of his brothers. Indeed, for several months paat his relationa with tho Grand Dukes Alexu and Vladimir have been decidedly strained, and be makes no pretenoe of oonoealing his sentiments toward them. He thoroughly duapproved of ♦hirfr conduct daring theic reaant visii to Paris, and with the people with whom they associated while there. What, however, particularly offended him was their failure to return to Bassia on hearing of the horrible nflway disaster at Borki. The catastrophe had been so terrible, and the destruction of the Emperor, the Empress, and their children so narrowly averted, that it was only natural to rappooe that ths Czar's brother! would hasten to his side for the purpose oi •ongratolating him on his providential •saape. They, however, preferred to remain »t Paris, and none of the Czar's relative! WfTS prment here at St Petersburg to take part & the unparalleled display of royal enthusiasm which attended the popolai wtloome of the Imperial party after th< aoddent,— St Petersburg correspondent of tht « Mow York Tribune."

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